Motor-vehicle.



No. 653302. Patented July 3, I900." c. A. LIEB.

MOTOR VEHICLE. (Applipation filed May a, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 653,|02. Patentad lu'ly 3, I900.

c. A. LIEB.-

MUTOB VEHICLE.

(Application filed May 6, 1899f (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. LIEB, or unw YORK, N. Y.

MOTOR-VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 653,102, dated July 3,1900.

Application filed May 6, 1899. Serial No. 71 5j821. (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES A. LIEB, acitizen of the United States,residin g atNew York,

in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new anduseful Improvements in Motor-Vehicles, of which the following is aspecification.

In motor-vehicles and the like where the power of the motor istransmitted through gear-wheels to the shaft or axle on which thesupporting-Wheels of the vehicle are mounted or direct to the wheelitself when it rotates upon the axle great difficulty and objection havearisen, owing to the fact that as the axle wears or springs lateralvibration of the supporting wheels is permitted, which either throws thegear-wheels out of mesh entirely or disposes them at an angle to eachother; so that friction and binding take place.

My invention is designed to overcome the objections above noted; and itconsists in providingaflexible connection between the gearwheel and therotary part to which power is applied. e

The invention also'c'onsists in certain details of construction andcombinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully describedand claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification, Figure 1 is a planview, partly in section, of one embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is avertical section on the line a: m, Fig. 1-. Fig. 3 is a detail plan viewof the flexible disk employed. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section showing amodification. Fig/dis a plan View of the same, and Figs. 6 and 7 aredetail views representing other modifications.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the diflerent views.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of thedrawings the axle 1 is stationary, and the'supporting wheel 2 is mountedto rotate upon the end thereof. Secured to the hub 3 of the wheel 2 is acollar or sleeve 4, having an annular outwardly-projecting flange'othereon. The motor 6 is of any suitable form and construction and ismounted in any suitable manner upon the body of the vehicle. Themotor-shaft 7 carries a pinion 8, which meshes with a gearwheel 9,which, as shown, is in ring form and has on its inner surface an annulargroove 10. Said gear-Wheel is alsoprovided with an inwardly-extendingannular flange 11, through which and the" flange 5 on the sleeve 4 saidgear-wheel isconnected to the supportingwheel 2 by means of a disk 12,of leather or other flexible or yielding material. The said disk isprovided with a central opening, through which the collar 4 extends andis secured to the flanges 5 and 11 by screws, rivets, or other analogousdevices. Secured to the motor 6 or to a stationary part of themotorframe is a bracket 13, carrying a plurality of guide andsupportingrollers '14 14, which are 15, which fit within the groove 10 in thegearwheel9. y U It will of course be understood from the preliminarystatements in this specification that the object of the aboveconstruction is to maintain the gear-wheel 9 and pinion 8 in mesh witheach other at all times and to permit of a rocking or lateral movementof the supporting-wheel 2 on the axle 1. As the gear-wheel 9 issupported upon and guided by the rollers 14 14, it is of courseindependent of the supportingwheel 2 and is maintained atalltimes in thesame relative position with respect to the pinion 8. The flexible disk12, however, by means of which said gear-wheeland said supporting-wheel2 are connected together, permits of a slight lateral movement of saidsupporting-wheel when the axle l wears. I

In the form 'of myinvention above described I have assumed that the axle1 is fixed on the body of the vehicle and that the supporting-wheel 2 ofthe vehicle turns upon the end of the axle. It may be found desirable,however, to make the axle rotatable and to secure the supporting wheelto the end thereof. i

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings I-have illustrated a shaft or axle 16,which is to be rotated from the motor 6 from the pinion 8 on the end ofthe motor-shaft. In this case the gearwheel 17, with which the pinion 8meshes, is

formed with a central hub 19, which loosely surrounds or embraces theshaft or axle 16 and is supported by a bracket 20 on the motor or otherfixed part of the vehicle. Keyed provided with circumferential ribs ortongues or otherwise secured to the shaft oraxle 16 is a sleeve orcollar 21, having an annular outwardly-projecting flange 22, to whichand to the gear-wheel 17 is connected a disk 23, of leather or otherflexible yielding material, similar in all respects to the disk 12,heretofore referred to. By this construction it will be seen that thegear-wheel 17 is supported independently of the rotary shaft or axle 16and that it is maintained at all times in mesh with the pinion 8. Themotion of said gearwheel is transmitted to the shaft or axle 16 throughthe flexible yielding connection 23, which permits of a rocking movementof said shaft or axle in its bearings without affecting the gearing.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Fig. 6 of the drawings theadjacent spokes 24 24: of the supporting-wheel of the vehicle areconnected by stiff coil-springs 25, and the gear-wheel 26, which mesheswith the pinion on the motor-shaft, is provided with outwardly extendinglugs or projections 27, which are secured to the springs 25, so thatwhile the motion of said gear-wheel is transmitted to saidsupporting-wheels a lateral or rocking movement of saidsupporting-wheels is permitted independent of said gear-wheel.

In Fig. 7 I have shown in lieu of the springs supporting-wheels ispermitted independent of the gear-wheel.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isv 1. The combination with the axle of avehicle and a supporting-wheel thereon, of a motor, a pinion driventhereby, a ring gearwheel meshing with said pinion and surroundin g saidaxle, su pporting-rollers for said gearwheel, and a flexible connectionbetween said gear-wheel and said supporting-wheel.

2. The combination with the axle of a vehicle and a supporting-wheelthereon, of a motor, a pinion driven thereby, a ring gearwheel meshingwith said pinion, means for supporting said gear-wheel independent ofthe axle and the supporting-wheel, and a disk of yielding materialconnecting said gear and supporting Wheels.

3. The combination with the axle of a vehicle and a supporting-wheelthereon, of a motor, a pinion driven thereby, a ring-gear meshing withsaid pinion, surrounding said axle and provided with an annular grooveon its inner surface, a stationary bracket, a plurality of guide andsupporting rollers carried thereby, each having a peripheral Web thereonwhich fits within said groove, and a yielding connection between saidgear-wheel and said supporting-wheel.

3 In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

CHARLES A. LIEB.

Witnesses:

WM. M. STOOKBRIDGE, GEO. W. REA.

